Next school year, Bellingham High students could find themselves dining in a forest-themed café with a new paint job, seating area and self-service food station open after hours.

A designer has finished plans for the proposed cafeteria makeover, and the project could begin this summer if the School Committee votes on Tuesday to allocate $35,000 from the food services revolving fund.

Jeanne Sheridan, director of school nutrition for Bellingham and Blackstone schools, hired The Artworks Shop to lead the design effort. The Bolton-based company specializes in makeovers of school cafeterias.

"We go into these serving areas all over the country and renovate them into little cafés," said founder Tacey Martinek, a muralist. "We always say that we deinstitutionalize school lunch rooms, because they’re always very stainless steel-looking."

Sheridan said the goal of the project is to "revitalize" the drab cafeteria, making it more inviting. This, she hopes, will lead to more meals sold and an increase in revenue.

The district has been losing money since having to get rid of vending machines because the foods and drinks inside did not meet state and federal healthy school meal guidelines.

"These kids are use to Panera, McDonalds and Wendy’s — really state-of the-art-designs — then they go to their school lunch and it’s just thrown at them," Martinek said.

Departing from the traditional cafeteria tables and benches, the renovated space will include high top tables and stools. Martinek will paint a mural — a scene from a forest with leaves and tree branches — on the front of the café, where students enter to get their food.

Also the café will feature a reconfigured serving line with a burger slide, pasta and pizza section and so-called "Grab & Go" station, which will be open for students who remain after school for events or extracurricular activities.

Even cafeteria workers will get green uniforms to match the new décor.

Part of the design process included a contest in which students decided the name and logo for their cafeteria.

They chose to name the cafeteria "Black Hawk Café" after the district's fierce, feathered mascot. And images of a hawk, holding a tall fork and wearing an apron and chef’s hat, will adorn the walls.

Matt Tota can be reached at 508-634-7521 or mtota@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattTotaMDN.